Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club seeks volunteers

Rocco Mediate plays golf at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview Monday, May 20, 2013. Mediate will play in the Encompass Championship Pro-Am at the club June 17-23. (David Banks, Chicago Tribune)

The Encompass Championship Pro-Am is seeking more than 1,000 volunteers to help run the golf tournament for its inaugural year at the North Shore Country Club.

The tournament takes place June 17 through 23. Tasks that volunteers are needed for run the gamut from helping assist television crews from the Golf Channel and operating leader boards, to transporting players and managing golf cart inventory.

While some committees, like score keeping, require at least some prior knowledge of the sport, Tournament Manager Melissa Brady said most volunteers could be trained on the spot.

"No experience is required," she said, "Just a great sense of energy and spirit."

The championship is a part of the PGA Champions Tour, a series of events that are open to professional golfers 50 years or older. Notable athletes competing include World Golf Hall of Famers Ben Crenshaw and Hale Irwin. In addition to golf stars, the championship hosts a Pro-Am tournament on June 21 and 22 that features local celebrities such as retired Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and the team's placekicker, Robbie Gould.

Encompass, a Chicago-based insurance company, decided to move the championship closer to home after it acquired the sponsorship last year. The annual event will set up shop in Glenview until at least 2015.

Brady said the Championship has already been receiving support from residents in their new home.

"I definitely have seen a great deal of interest," she said. "Glenview has definitely been trying to step up to the plate."

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to visit encompasschampionship.com/volunteers for more information.